Oregon, we are at a transformational crossroad of civic leadership in the black community. Nationally we see the meteoric rise of blacks in government and business. The ceiling is shattered from the White House to the Justice Department to the Environmental Protection Agency and Xerox Corp. These institutions and organizations are all headed by black leaders who demonstrate America's new direction.

But locally, we are experiencing a very different exchange in leadership. The resignation of state Sen. Margaret Carter, preceded by the retirement of fellow Sen. Avel Gordly, leaves Oregon's 90-member legislature with a single black, Sen. Jackie Winters, a Salem Republican.

Johnell Bell

Blacks currently have no elected voice in county, city or regional government in the metro area. We currently have few advocacy organizations, and the organizations we do have lack the structural infrastructure to effectively transform public policy.

Oregon prides itself in being progressive. The lack of political black voices -- especially those of elected officials -- impacts all Oregonians. Oregon's black population is largely impoverished, according to federal poverty rankings, and continues to experience stark disparities across a number of social, economic, health and education indicators, as recently revealed in the Urban League of Portland's "State of Black Oregon" report.

School districts from Portland to Beaverton still lack the demonstrated political will and foresight to change the educational outcomes of our young people. Throughout our state, districts lack the basic competencies needed to engage our families, which research says impacts educational outcomes. Oregon colleges and universities still struggle to recruit and retain black researchers, administrators and tenured faculty. Political candidates who court us at church seem to forget about our voting bloc after elections; visit any elected official's office, you'd be hard pressed to find more than one black staff member, even harder pressed to find one in a substantive leadership role.

At the state level our youth are overrepresented in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. The educational achievement gap between blacks and their white counterparts persists. Unemployment rates in our community remain high. The list goes on.

For us, this raises concerns and prompts a call to action with a renewed sense of urgency. The question as we see it is not what we could have done, but rather what must we do?

First, we must all acknowledge the good work of those who have come before us. Like every generation, in every community, at times we differ in solutions and approach, though we agree on the problems that plague us. We recognize that we cannot stop with the path already paved.

Now is the time for Oregon to have a different conversation, followed by bold policy changes and courageous action -- from the community to the state capital to the district buildings. No longer will we allow agencies to placate us while tearing the fiber of our community. School districts: Be on notice, we will not support you if you don't support our families and children! We will be vocal: the achievement gap is unacceptable. County, city, and state elected officials: We will write, post and challenge you. Proclamations, contracts and rhetoric have never been enough. We need you to take decisive steps; being well-meaning or well-intentioned is no longer enough.

Our community is tired! But our generation is ready for action. The disparities are unacceptable. It's well past time to eliminate them.

Our families need family-wage jobs with health care. We are asking for the same type of opportunities that City Council, Metro, TriMet and the Portland Development Commission gave to Pearl and South Waterfront residents to transform our neighborhoods. We, too, want communities that are walkable and thriving and reflect their residents' cultural and historical perspective. We need strong schools with administrators who raise standards and expectations and engage families. Because when the family is strong, we have stronger communities. Anything less is unacceptable. Oregon, we can do better.

As young black men, we have been blessed to work with and learn from the best and brightest leaders this state has to offer. We've waited for tomorrow, and tomorrow has come for our generation.

We must hold each other accountable. We recognize that we are not strong if we are alone, and we are not alone. We are committed to Oregon and the work that must be done. We look to our peers -- Cyreena Boston, Michael Callier, Karol Collymore, Cashauna Hill, Rob Ingram, Kali Ladd, Charlene McGee, Adrienne Livingston, Jared Spencer, Pamela Weatherspoon and a host of others -- to also take up this charge. As our president says, we are the ones we've been waiting for. Join us. Help to nurture, develop and cultivate Oregon's black leadership.

We will never forget Nov. 4, 2008. The election of Barack Obama does not symbolize the work of our community being accomplished; rather, we saw for the first time in our generation the possibility of a utopian America. Now, Oregon, it's our time to chart a new, bold course. Lest we forget our duty to the future, lest we forget.

Charles McGee is the president and CEO of the Black Parent Initiative, an organization that works with parents to close the educational achievement gap. Reach him at charles.mcgee@thebpi.org.

Johnell Bell, a former staff aide to Portland Mayor Tom Potter and Multnomah County Chairman Ted Wheeler, is co-founder of the Black Parent Initiative. As a high school senior, he served on the Portland School Board as the student representative. Reach him at johnellmbell@aol.com.